title: Variational stereo imaging of oceanic waves with statistical constraints.
abstract: An image processing observational technique for the stereoscopic reconstruction of the waveform of oceanic sea states is developed. The technique incorporates the enforcement of any given statistical wave law modeling the quasi-Gaussianity of oceanic waves observed in nature. The problem is posed in a variational optimization framework, where the desired waveform is obtained as the minimizer of a cost functional that combines image observations, smoothness priors and a weak statistical constraint. The minimizer is obtained by combining gradient descent and multigrid methods on the necessary optimality equations of the cost functional. Robust photometric error criteria and a spatial intensity compensation model are also developed to improve the performance of the presented image matching strategy. The weak statistical constraint is thoroughly evaluated in combination with other elements presented to reconstruct and enforce constraints on experimental stereo data, demonstrating the improvement in the estimation of the observed ocean surface.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yezzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: Alvise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetazzo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010780:Photogrammetry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055871:Tidal Waves / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014872:Water Movements